The government's swine flu "czar" has been hired by
ABC News as a senior medical reporter, in the latest example
of a prominent government mouthpiece shifting to become a prominent
media mouthpiece.

ABC News has hired Dr. Richard Besser, the CDC
director who led the government's communications efforts during
the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak, reports The
Washington Post.

Besser currently heads the CDC's Coordinating
Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, where
he is responsible for the CDC's public health emergency and
emergency response activities.

However, he will step down from that role and
join ABC in September as senior health and medical editor.

Time
magazine has previously dubbed Besser “the
CDC’s calm-voiced, telegenic acting director,” highlighting
how adept he is at engaging the public on the government's health
agenda.

"A bioterrorism and infectious disease expert,
Besser has been all over TV screens recently, explaining in
soothing, cogent tones what's going on. He may be the authority
figure the nation needs right now." Time's Bevan Schneck
fawned in May.

According to his CDC
biography, Besser received the United States Public
Health Service Commissioned Corps, for "leadership"
during the H1N1 response.

Essentially, Besser is the government's leading
propagandist when it comes to the so called swine flu pandemic.

(Article continues below)

His move to ABC further embellishes the already
overtly cosy relationship the Obama administration is enjoying
with ABC, where its health care plan is concerned.